Soft Power: lives told through textile art
17 May - 10 August 2025
THIS EXHIBITION HAS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE VIEW OUR CURRENT AND UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS.
Soft Power is a visually stunning reminder that cloth, as a unique intersection of art, culture and lived experience, stands firm in society as a place of extreme power and timeless beauty. Bristol Magazine
Soft Power: lives told through textile art is an international exhibition curated by internationally-renowned textile art pioneer, Professor Alice Kettle, with curator of international textiles, Professor Lesley Millar MBE.
Exhibiting artists:
Alice Kettle, Alice Maher, Amneh Shaikh-Farooqui, Anurita Chandola, Audrey Walker, Enam Gbewonyo, Ellen Sharples, Erin M Riley, Jane Poulton, Kani Kamil, Kari Steihaug, Lasmin Salmon, Lise Bjorne Linnert, Margaret Nicholson, Mona Craven, Maryam Wahid, Paula Reason, Philippa Lawrence, Pippa Hetherington, Rachel Fallon, Reiko Koga, Sabine Kaner, Sarah-Joy Ford, Shelly Goldsmith, Suzumi Noda, Susie MacMurray.
Susie MacMurray. Bride. Image credit: Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios
Soft Power highlights how cloth can play a unique role in telling our stories and is used to communicate life’s journey. As something we encounter daily, cloth creates an immediate connection between the artist and the viewer, making these stories feel familiar and relatable.
The artworks focus on storytelling. They bring to light personal and collective experiences, from the autobiographical and hidden struggles of marginalised individuals to stories shaped by major events like the pandemic.
The works share intimate and emotional portrayals of self-expression while making bold statements about empowerment and change. They highlight how cloth can connect women across cultures, recording and reflecting their experiences.
Complementing this exhibition we are collaborating with Bristol Refugee Artists Collective (BRAC) and Dorcas Dress Project (DDP) to deliver a series of free-to-access workshops with Refugees across Bristol. In these creative workshops, participants will co-create a textile installation that will feature alongside an interactive installation exploring empowerment through textiles.
Exhibition Ticket Prices:
- Annual Art Pass: £18 (unlimited access for a full year)
- Adult day ticket: £9.90 (includes optional £1 donation, eligible for gift aid)
- Concession* day ticket: £5.45 (includes optional 55p donation, eligible for gift aid)
- Free admission** for Friends of the RWA, RWA Art Pass Holders, under 21s, students (please bring student ID).
* Disabled people (required companion free); people on Universal Credit; Art Fund card holders
** All RWA Members (Patrons, Friends, Academicians, Artists Network); all under 21s; all FE & HE students with valid student ID; required companion for disabled people; Museums Association, AIM or SWFed members).
Lead Image credit: Soft Power. Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studio
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